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London Road, Reading

A4 shield

Bath Road
A4 road map.png
Route information
Length 126.64 mi (203.81 km)
Major junctions
East end City of London
  A40 A40 road
A4208A4208 road
A301A301 road
A3212A3212 road
A400A400 road
A4201A4201 road
A4202A4202 road
A3216A3216 road
A315A315 road
A308A308 road
A3220A3220 road
A219A219 road
A316A316 road
[ M 4  ]M4 motorway Junctions 1 and 2
A205A205 road
A406A406 road
A3002A3002 road
A3005A3005 road
A30 A30 road
A312A312 road
A408A408 road
A3044A3044 road
[ M 4  ]M4 motorway Junction 5
A412A412 road
A355A355 road
A4155A4155 road
A308A308 road
A404A404 road
A321A321 road
A329A329 road
A327A327 road
A33 A33 road
[ M 4  ]M4 motorway Junction 12
A340A340 road
A339A339 road
A34 A34 road
A338A338 road
A346A346 road
A345A345 road
A361A361 road
A3102A3102 road
A342A342 road
A350A350 road
A365A365 road
A363A363 road
A46 A46 road
A36 A36 road
A39 A39 road
A4174A4174 road
A37 A37 road
A4044A4044 road
A4162A4162 road
A403A403 road
[ M 5  ]M5 motorway
West end Avonmouth
Location
Primary
destinations
Westminster
Hammersmith
Hounslow
Heathrow Airport
Slough
Maidenhead
Reading
Newbury
Marlborough
Chippenham
Bath
Bristol
Road network

A4 shield

The A4 is a major road in England from Central London to Avonmouth via Heathrow Airport, Reading, Bath and Bristol. It is historically known as the Bath Road with newer sections including the Great West Road and Portway. The road was once the main route from London to Bath and the west of England and formed, after the A40, the second main western artery from London. Much of the route is now paralleled by the M4 motorway, which carries the bulk of long distance traffic in this corridor, leaving the A4 primarily for local traffic, though sections in London and Bristol particularly are still major through routes.

The A4 has gone through many transformations through the ages from pre-Roman routes, Roman roads (such as the one passing Silbury Hill), and basic wagon tracks. During the Middle Ages, most byways and tracks served to connect villages with their nearest market town. A survey of Savernake Forest near Hungerford in 1228 mentions "The King’s Street" running between the town and Marlborough. This street corresponded roughly with the route of the modern A4. In 1632, Thomas Witherings was appointed Postmaster of Foreign Mails by Charles I. Three years later, the king charged him with building six "Great Roads" to aid in the delivery of the post, of which the Great West Road was one. It was not until the 17th century that a distinct route between London and Bristol started to resemble today's road. During the 17th century, the A4 was known as the Great Road to Bristol. When Queen Anne started patronising the spa city of Bath, the road became more commonly known as Bath Road. Over the years, the direction of the road has taken many detours depending on such factors as changes in tolls or turnpike patronage. For example, in 1750 the toll road from London was altered to go through Melksham; and in 1695 the map maker, John Ogilby, produced a map of the Hungerford area of the Great West Road showing two possible routes.


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Wikipedia

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